He may have a NCAA national championship and a NBA title to his name, but his first success began with with his play here in Russellville.

Corliss Williamson, a 1992 graduate of Russellville High School, was a dominant force as a member of the Cyclone basketball team. As a Cyclone, "The Big Nasty" received all-state and all-conference honors three times and was even named Gatorade National Player of the Year his senior year. Williamson holds the record for the most points in a season and career for RHS. He later went to the University of Arkansas and led the team to a national championship in 1994.

He followed his dream into the NBA as the 13th overall selection in the 1995 NBA when he was taken by the Sacramento Kings. Now the former Cyclone great is the newest member of the Philladelphia 76ers, after a recent trade from the 2004 NBA champion Detroit Pistons.

However, he has not forgotten his roots and the support he got while growing up that has made these things possible and has chosen to show his appreciation.

"It's really nice to come back home to Russellville," Williamson said Thursday at the weekly meeting of the Russellville Noon Rotary Club at the Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center's annex building. "Along my way of making it to the NBA, I've had many people help me out. I felt I had an obligation to give back to the people in this town."

One of the more notable ways Williamson has given back is the $1 million pledge he made in January 2003 to help with the building of the new Boys and Girls Club that will bear the name of his grandfather, L. V. Williamson. Williamson said he made such a gesture because he wanted to help out the kids of the community.

"I think the kids deserve a nice facility to play in," Williamson said. "This will give them something positive to do and help keep them off the streets."

Williamson said he had hoped to put an activity center in Russellville, but when he learned the Boys and Girls Club was trying to raise money to construct a new building he decided to put his commitment into that.

At Thursday's Rotary Club meeting Willaimson was honored for such gracious acts. He received the Paul Harris Fellow Award for his work with charities. Williamson was the recepient of the 2003 Rotary Club Vocational Service Award, which is also for work in charitable endeavors.

Williamson, who lives in Little Rock during the offseason, has a few other charities in Arkansas, such as "Legends in the Rock" and "Parks in the Rock" basketball camps, in an effort to raise money for children's organizations. However, the former Arkansas Razorback great is not out for fame or recognition in doing such things.

"All the charities that I've done, I haven't done them for reward," Williamson said. "I did them out of the kindness of my heart. The true reward will be when I walk into the new building and see the smiles on the kids' faces."

To further show his willingness to help with good causes, Williamson will be a guest judge at the slam dunk competition tonight at ValleyFest, which Williamson said he is looking forward to doing.

"I'm always looking forward to coming home and going to ValleyFest," Williamson said. "I like watching people I don't know play and seeing other people do some spectacular dunks."

Though he may be 6-foot-7, Williamson said he will not be doing any demonstration during the contest.

"I'm getting too old to dunk," Williamson said with a smile. "My teammates usually tease me because they say I can barely get over the rim now."

Williamson's former Razorback teammate Scotty Thurman was supposed to come with Williamson as a judge. However, Thurman will unable to make the trip to ValleyFest as he will be attending to his grandmother. But Williamson said he hopes to have someone else come with him.

When basketball season kicks into gear, Williamson will be making a new home when he joins the 76ers for the upcoming NBA season. The move from the defending champion Pistons to play in the City of Brotherly Love will not be an easy task.

"Playing for the 76ers is going to be a challenge because I'm going to a team that didn't make the playoffs last year," Williamson said. "That is going to be tough, but hopefully I can be a big part in a turnaround for that team."

Williamson added he is looking forward to playing with the team's most well-known player, Allen Iverson.

"I've never played with anyone who plays with much heart as Allen Iverson," Williamson said. "Some people may think he's selfish and doesn't pass the ball, but I think he'll be willing to make sacrifices and hopefully we can make a good turnaround."

Williamson said his 9-year-old son Chasen has long been an Allen Iverson fan, so the move by the elder Williamson was very welcomed by the son.

"He (Chasen) was real excited when he found out I got traded," Williamson said. "He asked me where I got traded to and I told him Philladelphia, and he was like 'really?' so he was happy about that."

Williamson takes a good resume with him to Philly. He received the NBA sixth-man award for the 2001-02 season while he was in Detroit, but his role on the team started to slightly decrease after the Pistons' acquisitions of Tayshaun Prince in the 2002 draft and the signing of the sometime-tempermental Rasheed Wallace.

As a member of the 76ers, though, Williamson hopes things will be different.

"The coach (Jim O'Brien) and general manager (Billy King) expect me to have a bigger role and to have a bigger responsibility," Williamson said. "They want me to be a leader, and I think I can bring a lot to the table."

Williamson may be going to a team that will have a hard fight to make the playoffs, but he has not forgotten the joy of winning his two championships.

"The national championship means a lot to me because of the pride of being an Arkansan," Williamson said. "The NBA championship means a lot to do because it's always exciting to be the best in your profession. I'm really blessed to be one of the few people with both a national championship and NBA title. I'm truly grateful."

These were just some things that ranks high on the excitement list for Corliss. His recent visit was evidence of more.

"It means a lot to get to come back here to Russellville," Williamson said. "I really enjoy it, and I like to reminisce about old times.

"It's refreshing to get to see friends and family and to remember my roots."

Because of Williamson liking to come back, playing with an NBA team closer to home is on his wish list.

"It's been a thought to play closer to home," Williamson said. "Of course it is out of my hands because I'm under contract, but I'd love to before my career is over."

Williamson has had a successful career to date, and he credits his achievements to situations in his early days.

"It's not my doing how I am now," he said. "It is how I was brought up and that's a tribute to my parents."